Opinion: WSOF Hits Home Run With Expanded Presence on NBC Sports Network

By: Mike FridleyApr 11, 2013

WSOF
on Thursday morning announced an expanded presence on the NBC
Sports Network with a new series titled “World Series of Fighting:
Future Champs.”

The new show, which debuts Saturday, April 13 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m.
PT, will highlight the promotion’s young talent by featuring
explosive performances by upstarts Ozzy
Dugulubgov [pictured] and Brenson
Hansen.

With all due respect to the Jon Fitches, Andrei Arlovskis and
Anthony Johnsons of the world, “Future Champs” is an extension of
WSOF’s best strategy for making a meaningful impact on the mixed
martial arts landscape.

Let’s face it: most MMA hardcores are going to look at UFC
castaways as talented fighters that weren’t able to stick around in
the major league. By developing its own talent with the likes of
Marlon
Moraes, Justin
Gaethje, Dugulubgov and Hansen, WSOF could conceivably promote
fights that are relevant beyond the pitch of watching athletes that
once made their names on the sport’s biggest stage, but were let go
due to declining performance or other negative aspects.

WSOF needs to only look at the roster model of Bellator, who has
legitimate homegrown Top-10 talent in Pat Curran and
a slew of talented Russian fighters that will make waves for years
to come.

By scouting and pushing its own homegrown talent on outlets such as
“Future Champs” and proactively grooming the next generation of
stars, WSOF is taking a tried (yet refreshing) approach to
establish itself as a long-term player in the MMA world.